Rich and I are off to our next Total Excursion! We began our 17-day European tour yesterday with a great flight on one of Delta’s new A330 Airbuses, landing in eclectic Barcelona, where our home for the evening is the uniquely stunning Hotel Continental Palacete.
The Hotel Continental Palacete was founded by native Catalan Pilar Vallet who purchased a mansion dating from 1863 named the Casa de Fabra, which was originally built in the Paseo de Gracia.
When the Avenue became more populated, the owners dismantled the building and moved it to its current location in the distinguished Rambla de Catalunya.
The Malagarriga family acquired the building in 1999, and converted the Palacete (literally, “little palace”) into a hotel where it has been continually operated since.
My clients know my predisposition towards boutiques with local flair, and the Palacete does not disappoint! She is decked with dozens of stunning crystal chandeliers and still boasts her original wood-beamed ceilings. It truly feels like a stay in a private mansion!
Our suite, #139, occupies a corner directly adjacent the cozy yet sumptuous breakfast room. I am literally 20 feet from the cappuccino machine which like their breakfast room, is available 24 x 7 x 365! This, for me, is a dream and the height of amenities, as I have been up working since 5:30 this morning!
Food choices are cold except from 9 am to 11 am when a full hot breakfast is served. Options are broadly varied – sweets and savories alike – we delight in the bountiful fresh fruits and fresh cheeses and jambon as only can be found in the Catalan region.
Our rooms on the piano nobile have 30 foot ceilings and a separate family room the size of ours back home has a marble decorative fireplace and automated privacy shades covering the floor-to ceiling double-balcony doors which lead to a walk-out terrace directly overlooking Las Ramblas.
What a delight! As the Concierge advised, the Palacete is “solamente” a a 22-room B&B! The Palacete’s guests will enjoy every amenity in old-world charm and opulence.
I am a little off-put by the plastic drawers under the glass-topped table next to the bed in the separate Master with en suite bath. The owners clearly invested in maintaining the original artwork, statues, and architectural elements including gold filigree designs adorning every wall, door and ceiling in the property.
If modern is your thing, the NH Barcelona Central right up the road is a better choice, but if, like me, you prefer old-world charm with a pinch of history, the Hotel Continental Palacete is a lovely choice for your next stay in Barcelona!
